Obama was addressing a room of about 200 people — many of whom paid as much as $35,800 to see him — when a woman in a white suit stood up and announced that she and nine others sitting at her table had written a song for him.

Despite Obama‘s protestations, they then broke into a song that called for the 23-year-old soldier‘s release. They passed out „Free Bradley Manning“ signs and the woman took off her jacket to reveal a black T-shirt with Manning‘s image.

„Now, where was I?“ the somewhat flustered president said after the group stopped. „There‘s an example of creativity.“